A Fall Colorado Adventure Fueled by Food
Spend a few autumn days and nights at Arrabelle Chalet, our ski-in/ski-out penthouse in the heart of Vail Square, and the world is your oyster—literally. You’ll be surrounded by authentic Austrian-style charm, shops, and restaurants with a world-class spa, pool, and ice-skating rink, but also perfectly situated to experience Colorado’s most scenic drives, when the leaves of the native Aspen trees turn shades of yellow and gold. And it isn’t just the beautiful foliage that gets us excited about a road trip; it’s the food. So, get behind the wheel and discover the hidden culinary treasures and well-known treats on our fall foodie adventure.
Vail + Beaver Creek
Colorado is an epicenter of craft breweries and many have taprooms with familiar pub-style menus that can make anyplace feel like your hometown. At Gore Range Brewery in the picturesque residential town of Edwards, a few miles down I-70 from Vail, grab a flight of four brews including their popular Hoppy Valley IPA, to go along with a bison burger and hand-cut fries.
Or, join the locals at Vail’s Ale House, curating Colorado’s finest craft beer featuring 20 taps with an eclectic menu that includes pan-seared Rocky Mountain Rainbow Trout. In addition, you can hoist a stein at the Vail Oktoberfest, offering a full range of Bavarian fun, from food like brats, pretzels and schnitzel sandwiches, as well as Munich’s legendary Spaten, a mix of spicy floral hops with a rounded toasty malt character.
Pit-stop in Edwards
While in Edwards, tuck in at The Craftsman for inventive sandwiches from a husband and wife team hell bent on re-imagining the greats, like Hot Chicken with Cool Ranch dressing and bacon on a sesame bun, and Wild Mushroom “Pastrami” with house sauerkraut on rye. And don’t miss Hovey & Harrison, a great community café/bakery/market with well-prepared grab-and-go food for your trip back to Vail.
Can’t Get Enough
The October arrival of Vail and Beaver Creek’s Restaurant Week is the chance to try a variety of prix fixe menus around town, each served with a healthy portion of beautiful mountain views. But this resort region is a culinary carnival at any time of the year.
Grill your own steaks at the rustic-but-beloved Minturn Country Club, settling into an authentic-but-beloved tavern atmosphere, complete with “TJ The Musician” and hours of entertainment for the whole family. Or get fancy with the tasting menu at the utterly charming Mirabelle, located in a Beaver Creek farmhouse designated as a Historic Landmark. And don’t leave without experiencing the Tuscan-inspired La Bottega, for stone oven pizza in their intimate wine bar.
Aspen
A day trip to Aspen will take you through spectacular Glenwood Canyon, with cliffs towering above the Colorado River, into a food lover’s dream town. Even before the celebrity chef seasonal pop ups arrive, Aspen has something for every appetite. Located on restaurant row, Meat and Cheese is a hybrid specialty food store and restaurant, offering artisanal charcuterie with all the right trimmings.
Reservations are required at Steak House No. 316 for prime meats, pristine seafood and white tablecloth service under golden chandelier lighting. In its rustic-luxe Alpine setting, Clark’s Oyster Bar is a good stop for East and West coast varieties, alongside a splendid assortment of tequila and mezcal, or champagne by the glass as a more traditional pairing, and wander into the casual family-run Bamboo Bear for the freshest Bahn Mi and big bowls of Pho, served until 9:30PM or “until the food runs out.”
A Foodie Weekend to Never Forget
But with three balconies and an open living space overlooking the ski slope, you actually don’t have to leave your chalet penthouse to enjoy the vibrant fall scenery. So before you hit the road for your trip home, let one of one of our private chefs turn out a menu with the best of Colorado’s regional ingredients for a taste—and a view—of the Rockies you’ll never forget.